H.R. 7995 - Chafee Opportunities for New Networks and Existing Connection Trust Act

Sep 4, 2026

Amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.R. 7995 updates the purposes of the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for successful transition to adulthood. It revises statutory purposes to emphasize sustained supportive relationships, youth participation in permanency planning rights, and multiple paths to reduce isolation. The proposal sets a one-year effective date after enactment and requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, within one year, to issue guidance to States and Tribal child welfare agencies on eligible services, best practices for peer support and mentoring, outreach standards, and documentation protocols for case plans.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

Section 1. Short Title

Section 2. Updating the Purposes of the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood

G:\CMTE\WM\19\4E\ANSHR7995.XML AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE TO H.R. 7995 OFFERED BY MR. SMITH OF MISSOURI Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following: 1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Chafee Opportunities 3 for New Networks and Existing Connection Trust Act’’ 4 or the ‘‘CONNECT Act’’. 5 SEC. 2. UPDATING THE PURPOSES OF THE JOHN H. 6 CHAFEE FOSTER CARE PROGRAM FOR SUC- 7 CESSFUL TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD. 8 (a) UPDATING OF PURPOSES.— 9 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 477(a) of the Social 10 Security Act (42 U. S.C. 677(a)) is amended— 11 (A) by striking paragraph (2); 12 (B) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and 13 (3) through (7) as paragraphs (3) through (8), 14 respectively; and 15 (C) by inserting after ‘‘conducted—’’ the 16 following: 17 ‘‘(1) to help children who have experienced fos- 18 ter care at age 14 or older to develop and maintain g:\V\G\042726\G042726.015.xml (1058728|1) April 27, 2026 (12:41 p. m.) G:\CMTE\WM\19\4E\ANSHR7995.XML 2 1 sustained, supportive relationships with adults (in- 2 cluding kin or fictive kin who are not serving as 3 placement), mentors, and peers (including peers who 4 have experienced foster care), with a goal of pro- 5 viding multiple and varied paths to reduce isolation 6 and ensuring that the youth develop lifelong connec- 7 tions and support networks; 8 ‘‘(2) to support youth still in foster care who 9 have experienced foster care at age 14 or older in 10 exercising the rights referred to in section 475A to 11 participate in developing their permanency plan and 12 receive written information about available services 13 and steps the agency is taking to support the plan, 14 as well as to facilitate pre- and post-permanency 15 peer support, mentoring, connections with kin, and 16 referrals to additional appropriate programs and 17 services to help youth achieve their permanency 18 goals;’’. 19 (2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made 20 by paragraph (1) shall take effect on the date that 21 is 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act. 22 (b) GUIDANCE.—Within 1 year after the date of the 23 enactment of this Act and after consulting with youth with 24 lived experience in foster care, the Secretary of Health and 25 Human Services shall issue guidance to States and Tribal g:\V\G\042726\G042726.015.xml (1058728|1) April 27, 2026 (12:41 p. m.) G:\CMTE\WM\19\4E\ANSHR7995.XML 3 1 child welfare agencies regarding the purposes set forth in 2 paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 477(a) of the Social Se- 3 curity Act, that includes, at a minimum— 4 (1) examples of services and support eligible for 5 Federal funding under part B of title IV of such 6 Act, under part E of such title as part of completing 7 and following the case plan requirements provided 8 for in section 475A of such Act, or under section 9 477 of such Act, including individual youth support, 10 family support, and peer support to engage youth 11 during reunification, guardianship, or adoption pro- 12 ceedings; 13 (2) best practices for facilitating peer support, 14 mentoring, and the development and maintenance of 15 lifelong connections, including practices that support 16 sibling, tribal, and community connections, including 17 minimum qualifications and training for persons 18 providing mentoring and peer support; 19 (3) standards of outreach to and notification of 20 eligible youth, including youth with a planned per- 21 manent living arrangement, to ensure referrals to 22 appropriate programs and services; and 23 (4) protocols for documentation of support and 24 relationship-building activities under section 477 of 25 such Act that are required by section 475A of such g:\V\G\042726\G042726.015.xml (1058728|1) April 27, 2026 (12:41 p. m.) G:\CMTE\WM\19\4E\ANSHR7995.XML 4 1 Act to be included in a child’s case plan, sufficient 2 to per

FAQs

What is H.R. 7995 titled as under the short title section?

The Act may be cited as the “Chafee Opportunities for New Networks and Existing Connection Trust Act” or the “CONNECT Act”.

What changes does the amendment make to the program purposes?

It updates purposes to help certain youth develop and maintain sustained supportive relationships and lifelong connections, and to support youth in foster care to exercise rights related to permanency planning and receive information and peer support.

When do the amendments take effect and what guidance must be issued?

The amendments take effect one year after enactment. Within one year after enactment, after consulting youth with lived experience, the Secretary must issue guidance covering eligible federal-funded services, best practices for peer support and mentoring, outreach and notification standards, and documentation protocols for case plans.

Sep 4, 2026

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